Ice tray



I June 10, 1952 BUCHANAN 2,599,972

I ICE TRAY Filed July 2, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET l f K r 3 3 r N 16 7 20 12 21 14 22 u L.1 w lulu w H'I I I n ii a It INVENTOR. fifz'z'iae/ fix/tiara TTORNEYS June 10, 1952 M, K. BUCHANAN 2,599,972

ICE TRAY I Filed July 2, 1949 2 swam-4mm 2 FIG. 5

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37 INVENT R.

ATTORNEYS Mir/Fad I: an; I

Patented June 10, 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE TRAY Michael K. Buchanan, Norfolk, Va.

Application July 2, 1949, Serial No. 102,754

'7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to ice trays for domestic refrigerators and more particularly to a tray having means for ejecting ice cubes after they are formed.

The conventional ice tray consists of a pan and a grid to divide the pan into'a plurality of individual ice cube compartments. The grid consists of a longitudinal member and a plurality of transverse members or fins. When cubes are frozen in an ice tray they are bonded to the bottom and side walls of the tray and to the surfaces of the grid member. This bond must be broken to remove the cubes from the tray.

In the earlier forms of ice tray, the grid was rigid and the cubes were removed either by permitting the tray to remain at room temperature or by running hot water on the bottom of the tray.

In the development of such trays, means have been provided for releasing the cubes from the pan and the grid. In one form of tray the fins or transverse members are movable and various forms of force multiplying means have been devised for eifecting this movement. Such means generally comprises a pivoted lever connected to an actuating member, which may form the upper part of the longitudinal member of the grid, which is in turn connected to the fins to cause movement of them when the lever is actuated.

In the present invention, I provide means for automatically moving the fins to release the cubes from the pan and grid when the cubes are frozen. In carrying out the invention I provide a member, preferably in the form of a tube, to receive water or other liquid that expands on freezing. A second member associated therewith is thus moved with respect to the first member by the confined body of liquid. One of these members is connected to a stationary part of the grid, such as the lower longitudinal member, and the other member engages the fins, or is connected to an actuating member that engages the fins, to move them when relative movement of the two members takes place.

Thus, when the tray is placed in the freezing unit of the refrigerator, the liquid in the actuating member is at the same temperature as the tray and the water in it to be frozen into cubes, approximately room temperature. While the tray remains in the freezing unit, the liquid in the actuating member is cooled. At a temperature of approximately 39 R, if it is water, this liquid begins to expand. Upon expansion of the liquid, the movable member causes movement of the fins to release the cubes.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown several forms of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view with the fins in the position occupied duringfreezing;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the fins moved to the position occupied when the cubes are released;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another form of the invention with the transverse members in freezing position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view thereof on line 6-45 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of another form of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view thereof on line 88 of Fig. '7.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates generally a pan, which may be made of aluminum, metal, suitable plastic, or other material. The pan is provided with a bottom 2, side walls 3, a rear end wall 4 and a front end wall 5. The latter may be slightly inclined, as shown, to facilitate the release of the cubes. A bead 6 may be formed on the upper edge of the pan, as is conventional, to strengthen it. Within the pan I provide a grid 1, the grid consisting of a centrally arranged upstanding, longitudinal member 8, and transverse members or fins 9. The grid members divide the interior of the pan into a plurality of compartments in which ice blocks or cubes are formed. As shown in Fig. 4, the transverse members are provided with slots H) at the bottom to receive the longitudinal member and the longitudinal member is provided with V-shaped slots I I (see Figs. 2 and 3) extending downwardly from the upper edge to permit the transverse members to be slipped over the longitudinal member. These V-shaped slots permit the transverse members to assume the inclined position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 during the freezing operation and to move to the substantially vertical position shown in'Fig. 3 for the purpose of releasing the cubes.

In the form of operating mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, rod I2 is connected at one end to the longitudinal member 8 of the grid. As shown, the longitudinal member 8 is provided with an extension or car l3 adjacent one end. The'rod I2 is pivotally mounted on this ear. For this purpose the end of the rod ma be slotted for the reception of a portion of the ear and a pivot pin I extended through the assembled parts. Adjacent the free end of the rod it is provided with a bore i5 forming a chamber for the reception of the liquid. A second rod It is assembled with the rod I2, the two rods being connected by a sleeve 17 formed of rubber or other resilient material. The sleeve is secured to the exterior of the two rods by any suitable adhesive or cement, thus confining the body of liquid between the two members. The end of rod it is likewise slotted and secured to an ear 18 by pin l9.

Ear I8 is carried by a. transmitting member 29 which rests upon the top of the longitudinal member 8. As shown, the longitudinal member is of less height than the transverse members or fins. The transmitting member is provided with a plurality of pairs of slots 2! which receive the upper edges of the transverse members. The lower longitudinal member is provided with an extension 22 at the end opposite the ear 13 extending above the plane of the transmitting member 26. The two ends of the transmitting member are provided with slots 23 and 24 which receive the ear l3 and the extension 22 to guide the transmitting member in its movement. The operation of this form of the invention will be apparent. After the longitudinal member, the fins and the transmitting member 26 have been assembled, the actuating member is placed in position. The rubber sleeve IT is placed on the rod 12 and the bore filled with water or other liquid that expands on freezing. A sufficient quantity of water is used to expand into the sleeve and entirely fill the space between the rod i2 and the rod [6 when the rod I6 is in position. After adjusting the assembly to a length equal to the space between. the pivots i4 and 19 with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the sleeve is secured to the rods 12 and 16 by a suitable adhesive. The pivot pins 14 and 19 are then inserted.

When the pan is filled with water before placing it in a freezing unit, the water in the bore I5 is at substantially the same temperature as the water from which the ice cubes are to be formed. t is then placed in the freezing unit. As the contents of the tray are cooled, the liquid in the actuating member is also cooled and at a temperature of about 39 F. it begins to expand. The temperature of the liquid in the actuating member will probably be slightly higher than the temperature of the water in the compartments of the tray because of better heat transmission from the main body of water which is in contact with both walls of the pan and the walls of the grid. This compensates for the necessity of greater heat transfer from the compartments due to the greater dimensions of the bodies of water contained therein.

The liquid in the bore l5 will continue to expand as it approaches freezing temperature causing movement of the rod l6 away from the rod !2. This moves the actuating member to the left in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings causing the fins 8 to be moved to the vertical position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings to release the cubes from the pan and grid. Thus when the tray is removed from the refrigerator, the cubes have been released. As the freezing liquid in the actuating member is exposed to room temperature, it again liquefies and contracts and the tube I! then causes the rod IE to move toward the rod 12 assuming a position for further use.

In the form of the invention shown in'Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the construction of the pan is the same as heretofore described and the same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding parts. The longitudinal member 8 and the transverse members 9 'are also constructed substantially as heretofore described. In this form of the invention the longitudinal member is provided with ears 25 and 26 at each end which extend above the plane of the fins. The actuating member consists of a pair of rods 27 and 28, one of which is provided with a bore 29 adjacent its end for the reception of liquid. These two members are connected by a tube of rubber 30 or the like which is secured to the adjacent ends of the two tubes by cement or adhesive in the manner heretofore described to form a confined space for the body of liquid. The other end of the tube 28 is slotted as at 31 to receive the ear 25 and a pivoted pin 32 is :passed through aligned openings in the tube and the ear. The ear 26 is provided with a cut-out portion or recess 33 to receive the end of the rod 21. The end of the rod is slotted as at 34' to receive the portion of the ear beyond the recess. The portion of the rod which is received in the recess 33 may be surrounded by a rubber sleeve 34.

Instead of employing the transmitting member 20 shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, in this form of the invention I secure a strip 35 to the bottom of the tube 27 and this strip carries plates 35 extending an appreciable distance to each side of the center and engaging the adjacent side of the transverse member.

The operation of this form of the device is substantially as heretofore described. The actuating member is anchored to the longitudinal member of the grid by the pin 32 but the opposite end is free to move with respect to the longitudinal member. The actuating member, when assembled, is filled with the proper quantity of liquid to arrange the parts as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings when the filling is in liquid condition. When the device is placed in the refrigerator and the liquid in the bore 29 expanded by freezing, the right-hand end of the actuating member being anchored, it moves toward the left in Fig. '7 of the drawings. This causes the plates 36 to move the transverse members 9 to a vertical, or nearly vertical, position and release the ice cubes from the pan and grid.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the pan is substantially of the same construction as heretofore described. The longitudinal member of the grid consists of a lower member 31 and an upper member 38 arranged in the same plane, the upper member functioning as a transmitting member similar to the member 20 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

As shown in Fig. 8, the lower longitudinal member is provided with slots 39 adjacent its lower edge, these slots being wider at the tops than at the bottoms. The upper member is also provided with slots 49 which increase in width from the edge inwardly. Transverse members or fins M are mounted on the two longitudinal members, the transverse members being provided with slots to receive the unslotted portions of the longitudinal members and being provided with unslotted portions to be received in the slots 39 and 40. At one end the lower longitudinal member is provided with an car 42 which extends upwardly beyond the horizontal plane of the top of the upper longitudinal member. This ear may be arranged in a plane beyond the plane of the body of the longitudinal member to permit the end 43 of the upper longitudinal memher to move past it. At the other end of the grid assembly the upper longitudinal member may be provided with an end portion 44 received in a loop 45 carried by the adjacent portion of the lower longitudinal member to guide the upper longitudinal member in its movement.

Intermediate its ends the upper longitudinal member is provided with an ear 46 and a rod 41 is pivotally mounted on this ear by a pin 48. This rod is likewise provided with a bore 50 for the reception of water or other liquid which expands on freezing. The second portion of the operating member in this instance consists of a rod 51, a portion of which may be of the same external diameter as the rod 41. The rod however, is provided with a reduced end 52 which is snugly received in the bore 50. It is also provided with a slot 53 'at its end to receive the ear 42.

In the operation of thi form of the invention, the rod 4'! is swung to a vertical position and the bore 50 filled with water or other liquid which expands on freezing. The reduced end 52 of the rod 5| is then inserted in the bore and the operating member lowered until the ear 42 is received in the slot 53. The upper longitudinal member and the operating member are moved to the right in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings to incline the transverse members of the grid as shown in the drawings. The bottom of slot 53 is then against the edge of the car 42. When the liquid in the bore 50 freezes and expands, the operating member cannot move toward the right and therefore moves the upper longitudinal member of the grid to the left. This movement causes the transverse members or fins to assume a vertical, or nearly vertical, position and release the cubes from the pan and the grid.

I claim:

1. An ice tray comprising an open top pan, a grid arranged in the pan to divide it into a plurality of compartments, the grid comprising a longitudinal member and a plurality of transverse members, the transverse members being relatively movable with respect to the longitudinal member, and means for moving the transverse members, said means comprising a rod having a bore in one end, a second rod having a portion of a size to be received in the bore and confine a body of liquid therein, the other end of one of the rods being operatively connected to the transverse members and the other end of the other rod being connected to the longitudinal member, the confined liquid upon expanding causing movement of the rods to move the transverse member relatively to the longitudinal member and release the cubes.

2. An ice tray comprising an open top pan, a grid arranged in the pan to divide it into a plurality of compartments, the grid comprising a longitudinal member and a-plurality of trans verse members, the transverse members being relatively movable with respect to the longitudinal member, and means for moving the transverse members, said means comprising a rodhaving a bore in one end, a second rod associated therewith, an extendable tubular member connecting the two rods, a body of confined liquid within the bore and Within the extendable tubular member, one of the rods being connected to the longitudinal member of the grid, and the other rod being operatively connected to the transverse members to move the transverse members relatively to the longitudinal member upon expansion of the confined body of liquid.

3. An ice tray comprising an open top pan, a grid arranged in the pan to divide it into a plurality of compartments, the grid comprising a longitudinal member and a plurality of transverse members, the transverse members being relatively movable with respect to the longitudinal member, and means for moving the transverse members, said means comprising a rod having a bore in one end, a second rod associated therewith, an extendable tubular member connecting the two rods, a body of confined liquid within the bore and within the extendable tubular member, one of the rods being connected to the longitudinal member of the grid, and a transmitting member connected to the other rod and to the transverse members of the grid to move the transverse members relatively to the longitudinal member upon expansion of the confined body of liquid.

4. An ice tray comprising an open top pan, a grid arranged in the pan to divide it into a plurality of compartments, the grid comprising a longitudinal member and a plurality of transverse members, the transverse members being relatively movable with respect to the longitudinal member, and means for moving the transverse members, said means comprising a rod secured to the longitudinal member of the grid, the rod having a bore in its free end, a second rod in alignment with the first rod, an extendable tubular member connecting the two rods and forming a space with the bore for a confined body of liquid, and a transmitting member connected to the second rod, the transmitting member extending longitudinally of the grid and having slots therein to receive the upper edges of the transverse members to move the transverse members relatively to the longitudinal member upon movement of the transmitting member.

5. An ice tray comprising an open top pan, a grid arranged in the pan to divide it into a plurality of compartments, the grid comprising a longitudinal member and a plurality of transverse members, the transverse members bein relatively movable with respect to the longitudinal member, and means for moving the transverse members, said means comprising a rod connected to the longitudinal member of the grid, the rod having a bore in its other end, a second rod in alignment therewith, an extendable tubular member connecting the two rods and forming with the bore a space for a confined body of liquid, and plates carried by the second rod in engagement with the transverse members of the grid to move the transverse members relatively to the longitudinal member upon relative movement of the rods.

6. An ice tray comprising an open top pan, a grid arranged in the pan to divide it into a plurality of compartments, the grid comprising a longitudinal member and a plurality of transverse members, the transverse members being relatively movable with respect to the longitudinal member, and means for moving the transverse members, said means comprising a transmitting member in the vertical plane of and above the longitudinal member, the actuating member being connected to the transverse members, and a telescopic rod having one end secured to the lon itudinal member of the grid and the other end secured to the actuatingmember, the telescopic rod having a space therein to confine a body of liquid which expands on freez ing to extend the rod and move the transmitting member to move the transverse members relatively to the longitudinal member.

'7. An ice tray comprising an open top pan, a grid arranged in the pan to divide it into a plurality of compartments, the grid comprising a longitudinal member and a plurality of transverse members, the transverse members being relatively movable with respect to the longitu dinal member, means for moving the transverse members, said means comprising a transmitting member arranged above the longitudinal member and connected to each of the transverse members, and a pair of aligned tubes, one or which is connected to the longitudinal member and the other of which is connected to the transmissil' member, the tubes being constructed and ar ranged to form a chamber to receive a body of liquid which expands upon freezing causing relative movement of the tubes and thereby causing relative movement of the transverse members with respect to the longitudinal members.

MICHAEL K. BUCHANAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 921,370 Degener May 11, 1909 989,044 Pool Apr. 11, 1911 2,058,458 Hull Oct. 27, 1936 2,066,042 Knight Dec. 29, 1936 2,133,860 Hill Oct. 18, 1938 2,181,580 Fitzsimmons Nov. 28, 1939 2,341,700 Diack Feb. 15, 1944 2,452,686 Sampson 1 Nov. 2, 1948 

